US20110062162A1

US20110062162A1 - Portable organizer

Info

Publication number: US20110062162A1
Application number: US12/884,396
Authority: US
Inventors: Brad THOMAS
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-17
Filing date: 2010-09-17
Publication date: 2011-03-17

Abstract

A portable organizer has a container portion that has a plurality of compartments that are formed by an arrangement of inner walls. The inner walls may be adjustable or statically arranged. A tongue is connected to the container portion that is used to anchor the container portion by fitting between a mattress and box spring or cushion and couch frame, etc. A hinge may be used to connect the tongue to the container portion to aid in storage. The tongue may be attached at an upper portion or lower portion of the container portion to match selected uses. In one embodiment, the tongue is compact and removable for easy and compact storage.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority and herein incorporates by reference U.S. provisional patent application 61/243,330, filed Sep. 17, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's busy lifestyle, convenience time-saving gadgets abound. It seems that we have more and more things to keep track of while we spend more time on our couch. Of course end tables and coffee tables are a common place to keep all these things, it is not a perfect solution as things fall off, spill and simply run out of room.
Likewise, end tables are often used in bedrooms. The end table is often ever-crowed with alarm clock and other items. Also, it is difficult to keep things organized on a flat table. There is a need for a portable organizer that can keep items neat and accessible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable organizer has a container portion that has a plurality of compartments that are formed by an arrangement of inner walls. The inner walls may be adjustable or statically arranged. A tongue is connected to the container portion that is used to anchor the container portion by fitting between a mattress and box spring or cushion and couch frame, etc. A hinge may be used to connect the tongue to the container portion to aid in storage. The tongue may be attached at an upper portion or lower portion of the container portion to match selected uses. In one embodiment, the tongue is compact and removable for easy and compact storage.
Other features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front cutaway view of a portable organizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side cutaway view of the portable organizer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the portable organizer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable organizer shown in FIG. 1 in a typical use.

FIG. 5 is a side cutaway view of a portable organizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side cutaway view of a portable organizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the portable organizer shown in FIG. 6 in a typical use.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a portable organizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the portable organizer shown in FIG. 8 in a typical use.

FIG. 10 is a side cutaway view of a portable organizer with a removable tongue portion.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the portable organizer shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a side cutaway view of a portable organizer with a removable tongue portion having a securing means.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the portable organizer shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a side cutaway view of a portable organizer with an integrated tongue portion.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the portable organizer shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a side cutaway view of the portable organizer shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in a storage position.

FIG. 17 is a side cutaway view of a handled embodiment of the portable organizer shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the handled embodiment of the portable organizer shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 17.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the portable organizer shown in FIG. 9 with a tray cover installed.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the portable organizer shown in FIG. 9 with pop out inner walls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements, and which are intended to show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a portable organizer 100 is shown having an outer wall which forms a container portion 110 with a plurality of inner walls 115, 120, 125 and 130 respectively. Inner walls 115, 120, 125 and 130 are permanently formed as part of portable organizer 100 and are manufactured as an integral unit. In another embodiment, some or all of inner walls 115, 120, 125 and 130 are selectively insertable by sliding between grooves formed on inner sides of container portion 110 as is known in the art. In the embodiment shown, a hinge 140 connects tongue 135 to outer wall 110. Hinge 140 allows container to rotate for storage. In use tongue 135 slides under a mattress or cushion 170 between a box spring or couch frame 175. The container portion 110 rests against box spring or cushion 175 to keep it from rotating further. A limiting hinge may be used to further limit rotation without depending on resting against box spring or cushion 175 as is known in the art.
Referring to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of a portable organizer 200 is shown having an outer wall which forms a container portion 210. A hinge 240 connects a tongue 235 as discussed above; however, tongue 235 is attached at a lower portion of container portion 210 causing container portion 210 to be positioned above tongue 235. In this embodiment, hinge 240 limits rotation by having a limiting portion that allows hinge 240 to rotate to a point but no further. This allows folding for storage. A plurality of inner walls 225 and 230 are used to create various compartments to hold items.
Now referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a portable organizer 300 is shown having an outer wall forming a container portion 310 having a plurality of inner walls 325 and 330. A tongue portion 335 is integrally formed as part of container portion 310. Of course, although tongue portion is shown joining at the bottom of container portion 310, it is understood that it could be joined at the top in a similar fashion as the portable organizer shown in FIG. 2 without hinge 140.
In a typical use, as shown in FIG. 7, portable organizer 300 is inserted under mattress or cushion 170 between box spring or couch frame 175 using tongue 335.
Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a portable organizer 800 is shown having an outer wall forming a container portion 810. In this embodiment, container portion 810 is curved at one end to eliminate sharp corners. A plurality of inner walls form compartments 815, 820, 830, 838, 840, 845, 850, 855 and 865 respectively. Of course the exact layout of these compartments is not critical. In the embodiment shown a compartment 838 is large enough to hold a book or magazine. These are shown merely as examples of the kind of things that could be held in portable organizer 800. In use, each user will determine what is actually held in the compartments.
Now referring to FIG. 9, a removable inner wall 822 is user configurable so as to change the shape of the compartments. Removable inner wall 822 fits within a wall track 825 to allow the user to insert or remove by sliding therein. Of course one or more wall tracks 825 may be provided depending on the degree of customization allowed. Additionally, the size and shape of removable walls 822 may be varied to provide additional flexibility.
In use, portable organizer 800 is slipped between mattress or cushion 170 and box spring or couch frame 175 as discussed above. Of course portable organizer 800 may be held in other kinds of anchoring objects such as love seats, desks, etc. Additionally, tongues 135, 235, 335 and 835 may be made longer or shorter to meet specific needs. For example, the tongue could be made longer for an embodiment that is meant to be used under a mattress and short if meant to be used under a couch cushion.
The portable organizer may be made of plastic, wood, metal, composite or any suitable material. Additionally, the tongue may be made of the same material as the container compartment or could be a different material.
Now referring to FIGS. 10, 11 and 16 a container portion 910 has a compact tongue 920 removably fitting within a support bracket 930. In storage, container portion 910 is detached from support bracket 930 and then compact tongue 920 is rotated and fits within support bracket 930.
Now with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the portable organizer has container portion 910 attached to support bracket 930 as discussed above with the addition of a retaining means 940. Retaining means 940 may be bolts or screws or detent pins that securely holds tongue 920 within until detached by user.
Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the portable organizer is shown having container portion 910 with a non-removable compact tongue 960. This provides maximum simplicity with a relatively compact size. Because container portion 910 is integrally formed as part of tongue 960, there are no parts to lose or wear.
Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, container portion 910 has a handle 965 attached therein rotatably attached with a retainer 970. In use, portable organizer 910 is conveniently carried using handle 965 in a vertical orientation and once anchored in selected position, handle 965 is rotated to a horizontal position that is out of the way until needed.
Now with reference to FIGS. 8, 9 and 19, portable organizer 800 is shown with a tray cover 975 installed by fitting over container portion 810. Tray cover 975 encloses compartments 815, 820, 830, 838, 840, 845, 850, 855 and 865 respectively and allows a user to place a beverage, keys, etc. on top.
Now referring to FIG. 20, portable organizer 800 is show having pop-out inner walls 822 pre-perforated in tongue 835. A high strength plastic is perforated to allow a user to pop out walls 822 as needed. Once walls 822 are removed, they are insertable as discussed above with respect to FIG. 9. The number of walls 822 disposed within is not critical as long as tongue 835 remains structurally intact.
Although the instant invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A portable organizer comprises;

a container portion;

said container portion having at least one compartment;

said container portion having an attachment end;

a tongue portion disposed on said attachment end;

said tongue portion being adapted to removably fit in an anchoring means.

2. The portable organizer according to claim 1 wherein said anchoring means is a couch and a couch cushion.

3. The portable organizer according to claim 1 wherein said anchoring means is a chair and a chair cushion.

4. The portable organizer according to claim 1 wherein said anchoring means is a mattress and a box spring.

5. A portable organizer comprises;

a container portion;

said container portion having a plurality of compartment portions;

said container portion having a tongue portion along an edge of said container portion; and

said tongue portion being adapted to fit between a first support and a second support whereby said tongue portion is removably held in place.

6. The portable organizer according to claim 5 wherein said first support is a mattress and said second support is a box spring.

7. The portable organizer according to claim 5 wherein said first support is a couch frame and said second support is a couch cushion.

8. The portable organizer according to claim 5 wherein said first support is a chair frame and said second support is a chair cushion.

9. The portable organizer according to claim 1 further comprising a hinge portion disposed between said attachment end and said tongue whereby said tongue is adapted to rotate around said hinge portion to assist in storage.

10. The portable organizer according to claim 1 wherein said attachment portion is disposed along a lower edge of said container portion.

11. The portable organizer according to claim 1 wherein said attachment portion is disposed along an upper edge of said container portion.

12. A portable organizer comprises;

a container portion;

said container portion having at least one compartment;

said container portion having an attachment end;

a bracket attached to said attachment end;

a tongue portion adapted to removably fit within said bracket;

said tongue portion having a storage position and an in use position wherein said storage position.

13. The portable organizer according to claim 12 further comprising a tray cover adapted to fit over a top portion of said container portion.

14. The portable organizer according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of relocatable inner walls adapted to removably fit within a plurality of wall tracks disposed within said compartment portion.

15. The portable organizer according to claim 14 wherein said plurality of relocatable inner walls are adapted to be removably retained within said tongue portion.

16. The portable organizer according to claim 15 where said plurality of relocatable inner walls are removably retained within said tongue portion by being pre-perforated therein.

17. The portable organizer according to claim 12 further comprising a retainer means for removably retaining said tongue portion to said bracket.

18. The portable organizer according to claim 17 wherein said retainer means is a bolt.

19. The portable organizer according to claim 17 wherein said retainer means is a pin.

20. The portable organizer according to claim 1 wherein said container portion and said tongue portion is integrally formed therein.